Lasting machine



March 13, 1945. P, E. BURBY LASTING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet `l.

MME/V70@ P. E. BURBY LASTING'MACHINE March 13, 1945.

Filed May 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE LASTING MACHINE Philip E. Burby, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 4, 1943, serial'No. 485,577

15 Claims.

This invention relates to lasting machines, and is herein illustrated as applied to a power-operated toe-lasting machine' which, except as hereinafter noted,` is `constructed generally as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,160,- 846, granted on June 6, 1939, on an application of F. C. Eastmans and A. F. Pyms. It is to be understood, however, that the inventionis not limited to machine organizations of that particular character.

The machine shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent is provided with wipers movable to wipe the toe-end portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insole on the last, andalso with grippers which apply a pull to the toe end of the upper and control it during the greater portion of the wiping operation of the wipers. In Letters Patent No. 2,354,663, granted on August 1, 1944, on an application of mine, there was disclosed, instead of such grippers, a device having the function of what is commonly known as a retarder, the device being arranged to clamp the marginal portion Vof the upper outspread on the Wipers and to cooperate with them in applying a pull to the upper while preventing "the formation of' any objectionable wrinkles in the upper in the course of the toe-lasting operation. lSinceva shoe prior to the toe-lasting operationis commonly lasted at the sides of the forepart beyond its toe portion, and since the margin of the upper may, therefore, be more readily outspreadand clamped on the toe wipers around the end of the toe than near the previously lasted portions at the sides of the toe when the wipers are in the positions which they occupy at the beginning of the` wiping of` the.

upper heightwise of the last, the vretarder shown in the last-mentioned VLetters Patent was arranged to be tipped by contact of portions thereof with the shoe to a position inclined relatively to the toe end of the shoe bottom,fso asv to clamp the upper onthe wipers rst at the end of the the retarder, having tipping movements as above described,is dilerently controlledwth resp'ect to such movements, an object being to afford better insurance under all conditions that it will assume precisely the positions desired in the course of the lasting operation. In the construction herein shown the tipping of the retarder into position to clamp the upper on the wipers iirst at the end of the toe is effected, not by the shoe, but by mechanism acting on it as it is moved bodily heightwise of the last toward the wipers, and through the same mechanism it is thereafter tipped positively into parallel relation to the wipers in response to the upwiping movement;` of the wipers. This mechanism, in the illustrative em- `bodiment of the invention, comprises an arm toe, and thereafter in the course of the wiping connected bya link to the retarder'and mounted to swing yabout an axis extending widthwise of the last in unison with another arm through which bodily movements of the retarder height- Wise of the last are effected or controlled. Accordingly, as the retarder lis moved toward the wipers by the last-mentioned arm it receives a proportional amount of tipping movement to bring it into the proper'position to clamp the upperon the wipers at the end of the toe, and in response to the upwiping movement of the wipers reverse movements of the two arms cause the retarder invariably to assume a parallel relation to the wipers at precisely the right time in the upwiping operation.

The novel features of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to 'the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view partly in right-hand side elevation and partly in section of a portion of the machine in which the invention is hereinl illustrated as embodied, the parts being shown in the positions which they occupy prior to the beginning of the movements of the wipers and the retarder;

Fig. 2 shows mainly in elevation a portion of the structure which appears in Fig. 1, as viewed from the right with reference to that ligure;

Y Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a portion of the structure, but illustrating the positions of the parts substantially at the beginning of the upwiping operation of the Wipers on the upper;

- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, but illustrating the positions ofthe parts after the beginning but prior to the completion of the upwiping operation;

Fig. 5 is a View `similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts as they appear after the wipers have begun to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the insole; and

Fig. 6 is mainly a plan view showing the parts in the positions which they occupy at the same time in the operation of the machine as in Fig. 3.

In view of the disclosures in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, the present description will be confined to such portions of the machine as it is necessary to refer to for an understanding t of the invention. The position of the shoe, here-` turned first in a counterclockwise direction with reference to Fig. 1, thus permitting the spring 42 to turn the clamp in that direction, assisted by in shown as one of the welt type, is determined. Y

by a member 2 which engages the bottom face of the toe end of the insole and in the` operation of the machine on a shoe of that type engages also the inner face of the lip of the insole at the 'end and the sides of the toe. The shoe is clampedv the friction of the ring 30 on the clamp, and thereby to move the retarder downwardly toward the wipers. The rockshaft is automatically controlled by a cam (not herein shown), and the timing of its movements relatively to the movements of the wipers may be assumed to be the against this member by a toe rest 4 which is moved upwardly into clamping position substantially at the beginning of the cycle of power operations of the machine. For lasting the toe end of the shoe the machine is provided with wipers 6 which are advanced and closed to embrace the upper about the toe end of the last and are swung upwardly to wipe the upper heightwise of the last, after which they are further advanced and closed to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardly over the feather and against the lip of the insole, the lip being supported against the inward pressure of the wipers by the member 2.

As in the machine shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent No. 2,354,663, the grippers disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,160,846 for pulling the toe end of the upper and for controlling it in the toe-lasting operation are dispensed with;Y

`supported'substantially midway between its lower and upper ends on an arm I2 mounted to swing about the axis of a rockshaft I4 extending widthwise of the last. By swinging movements of the arm I2 the bar I0 is moved downwardly to carry the retarder 8 heightwise of the last toward the wipers into upper-clamping position and is later moved'upwardly to return the retarder to its initial position. In these movements the bar I is further guided and controlled-by an arm I6 which is pivotally connected to its ,upper end and is mounted for swinging movements on a stationary member I8. Integral with` the arm I2 is another arm adjustably connected by a threaded spindle 22 to an arm 24 which is integral with the vupper part 26 of a two-part clamp 28 embracing a friction ring 30 on the rockshaft I4, the ring being held in fixed relation to the rockshaft by a pin 32 threaded in the shaft and extending through a hole in the ring. The clamp 28 has a lower part 34 connected to the upper part by a link 36. Pivotally mounted at one end on the upper part 28 is a lever 38 connected midway between its ends to the lower part 34 by a Cil same as disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent No. 2,354,663. Accordingly, the downward movement of .the bar Ill to carry the retarder into position for clamping the upper on the wipers takes place prior to the effective upwiping action of the wipers on the upper. After the wipers in their upward swinging movement have arrived in position to cause the retarder to clamp the upper thereon, as illustrated in Fig. 3,

they cooperate with the retarder as they are moved farther upwardly to apply a pull to the upper as it is being wiped heightwise of `the last, the margin of the upper slipping more or less between the wipers and the retarder. In this operation the retarder is lifted by the wipers, causing the clamp 28 to turn about the friction ring 30 against the resistance of the spring 42, as permitted by the slot 44. As the clamp is thus turned the friction of the ring 3!! thereon supplements the forceof the spring 42 in resisting the upward movement of the retarder and therefore increases the force with .which the upper is link 40.' The other end of the lever 38 is connected tothe lower, end of a spring 42 the upper end of which is connected to an adjustable member (not shown), the spring being under tension. The spring 42 accordingly acts through the lever 38 and the link 40 to hold the two-part clamp 28 in frictional engagement with the ring 30 and also tends to` turn the clamp about the -axis of the rockshaft I4 in the direction to impart downclamped on the wipers. Preferably at a time when the wipers have nearly arrived at the limit of their upwiping movement the rockshaft vI4 begins to turn reversely in a clockwise direction,

thus causing the ring 30 by frictional engagement with the clamp partially to counteract the force of the spring 42 and thus to reduce the pressure of the retarder on the upper, the reduced pressure being continued asi the wipers begin to wipe the margin of-the upper inwardly over the insole. Preferably before the wipers have completed their inwardwiping movements thevpin 32, as the rockshaft continues to'turn in a clockwise direction, arrives in position to act on the clamp, and then begins to lift. the `bar I0 and thus to carry the retarder away from the upper, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Continued movement of the rockshaft thereafter returns the parts to the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. While the timing of the operations of the means for controlling the retarder may thus be assumed to be the same as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,354,663, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to a construction operating precisely in that manner.

The retarder 8 is a substantially U-shaped retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers around the end and along the sides of the toe.

It comprises a pair of upper-clamping members y it also is mounted on the rod 56, and it is arranged to `overlap and engage flat faces on the two members 46 sothat all three members are held in fixed relation to one another for movement as a unit about the rod 56. For adjusting the two members 46 toward'or from each other there are provided two latch members 56 mounted on a rod 56 secured .to the bar I6, these latch members being arranged to extend into grooves 66 (Fig. 2) formed in portions of the members 46 which are located above the rod 56. Threaded on the opposite end portionshof the rod 58 are hand wheels 62 each provided with a ange 64 arranged to lie in a groove formedin the hub of the latch member 56 associated there; with. Each member 56 is controlled bya torsion spring 66 one end of which extends into'a hole in the hub of the member and another end of which is anchored on a pin 68 in the -bar. I6. By the springs 66 the latch members are held normally in the grooves 66, but they may be swung against the resistance of the springs to release the retarder members 46 and permit the latter to be removed from the rod 50 if desired.l It will be evident that the hand wheels 62 when they are turned act throughthe latch members 56 to adjust the retarder members46 along the rod 56 each independently of the other,

.-For purposes of this invention the ears 54. of

the central retarder member 48 are extended upwardly and are connected at their upper ends u by a link 16 to a downwardly extending arm- 12 which is in xed relation to the arm I2 and swings with the latter about the axis of the.

rockshaft I4. The link 16 comprises two arms 14 pivotally connected by pins 16 to the ears 54 positively predetermined. As the bar I6 ris moved downwardly by the arm I2 to carry the retarder from its initial position (Fig. l) toward the wipers, the retarder is tipped by the armv12 andthe.

link 16 to a position inclined relatively to the toe end of' the shoe bottom to cause it to clamp the outspread margin of the upper on the wipers first at the end of thetoe, as illustrated in Fig. 3. As the retarder and the bar I6 are vthereafter lifted by the wipers in the upwiping operation in the manner hereinbefore described, the swinging of the arm I2 by the bar I6 causes the arm 12 to tip the retarder reversely in a positive manner about the rod 56 to a position in which it is parallel to the wipers (Fig.

4) near the end of the upwiping operation, so y.

that it clamps the upper on the wipers at the sides as well as at the end of the toe. When the parts are in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 4 the pins 16 and the pin 82 are approximately in the same horizontal plane, and during the short further upwiping movement of the wipers, therefore, there is comparatively little tendency*V to. tip the retarder. The retarder, therefore, controls the upper in a sufficiently effective manner both at the end and the sides of the toe during the latter portion of the upwiping opertaion. Thereafter, as the bar I6 is lifted by the action of the pin 32 on the clamp 28 n the manner hereinbefore described, the retarder is returned to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. It will be evident that in this operation the arm 12 acts further to tip the retarder reversely about the rod 56, the effect of this tipping movement being thatthe retarder actually releases the margin of the upper rst at the end of the toe while still controlling it at the sides of the toe,V as illustrated in Fig. 5. Such longer control of the upper at the sides of the toe helps to guard against the formation of any objectionable wrinkles in those locations, where a tendency of the wipers is to deflect the marginal portion of the upper in a heelward direction.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and theninwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, and means for moving said retarder bodily heightwise of the last toward the wipers and for tipping it a distance determined by the amount of its bodily movement about an axis extending widthwise of the last to a positioninclined rela'- tively to the toe end of the shoe bottom to cause it to clamp the upper on the wipers rst at the end of the toe, the retarder being thereafter reversely movable about said axis in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last into position to clamp the upper on the wipers also at the sides of the toe.

2. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insole onf'the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retarder movable to carry it bodily heightwise of the last toward the wipers, the retarder being mounted on said support f or tipping movements about an axisextending widthwise of the last, and means connected to said retarder for thus tipping it in the course of its bodily movement toward the wipers to a position inclined relatively to the toe end of the shoe bottom to cause it t0 clamp the'upper on the wipers rst at the end of the toe, the retarder being thereafter reversely movable about said axis in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last into position to clamp the upper onthe wipers also at the sides of the to-e.

3. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the to-e-end portion of an upper on alast height-` wise of the last and then inwardly over an in sole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retardermovable to carry it bodily heightwise of the last toward the wipers and on which the retarder is mounted for tipping movements about an axis extending widthwise of the last, a device for thus moving said support, and means positively connecting said device to the retarder for tipping the retarder about said axis to a positioninclined relatively to the toe end of the shoe bottom to cause it to clamp the upper on the wipers. rst at the end of the toe, the retarder being thereafter re-' versely movable about said axis in the course of thewiping of the yupper.-he'ishtwise:orthe'. last into position to clamp the-.upper on the-wipers also at the sides of the toe.' f a n ,Y 4. In aA lasting' machine, vwipersfor wiping the toe-end portion of an upper-on alastheightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insole on the last, a yretarder for clam-ping theupper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retarder movable -to carryit bodily heightwise of the last toward the wipers and on which the retarder is mounted-for tipping movements about an axis extending, widthwisev of the last, a member mounted to turn about an axis extending widthwise of .the last for thus moving said support, and means connectingsaidmember to the retarder` for tipping theretarderA-.in the course. o'ffits movement heightwise. otithe-last about said first-named axis to a 'position inclined relatively to the toe end of the shoe bottom to cause it to clamp the upper on the wipers. rst at the end of the toe, the retarder being thereafter reversely movable about its axis iny thecourse of the wiping of theupper heightwise ofthe last into position to clamp the upper on thewipers also at the sides of the toe.

5. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of an upper o-n a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over aninsole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retarder movable to carry' it'bodily heightwise of the last toward the wipersand on which the retarder is mounted for tipping movements about an axis extending widthwise of the last, an arm mounted to swing about'an axis extending widthwise of the last thus to move said support, another arm movable in fixedy relation to said first-named arm, and a link` connecting said other arm to the retarder vforv tipping the retarder in the course of its movement heightwise of the last about said rst-named axis to a position inclined relatively to the toe end of the shoe bottom to cause it to clamp theupr'ieron the y wise ofthe last and then inwardly over `an insole on the last, at retarder for clamping vthe upper 'on the wipers at the end and the sides of theitoe, a` support for said retarder on which it is mounted for tipping movements about an axis extending `widthwise of the last, said support being movable heightwise of thev last by the wipers, a member mounted to turn -about an axis extend'-A ing widthwise of the last in response. to such movement of the support, and mechanism connecting saidmember to: the retarder for posi; tioningthe retarder in such relation to the wip: ersf as to clamp the upper thereon first. at the end of the toe and for thereafter tipping it about said first-named axis in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last to bring it into position to clamp the. upper on the wipers also-at the sides of the toe.

v9.-:-In a lasting machine,4 wipers movable'to wipe l, the toe-end portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an inwipers rstat the end' ofthe toe, the retarder being thereafter reversely movable about its axis in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise ofthe last into position to clamp the upper on the wipers also at the sidesof the'toe,

6. In a llasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion o-f an upper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder forclamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides' of the toe,l and mechanism connected to said retarder for positioning it in such relation to thawipers` as to clamp the upper thereon first at the endof the toe andI for tipping 'it positively about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the course'of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last to bring it into positie-n to clamp the upper on the wipers also. at the sides of the toe. f

'7. Ina lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the toe-end portion of an upper ona last heightwise of the last and then `inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for.A clamping the upper on the wipers at .the end andthe sides of the toe, a support for said retarder on whichit is mounted for, tipping movements about an axis extending widthwise of thelast, said support beingmovable heightwise of the last in thesame direction as the wipers as the upper lis wiped heightwise of the last by the wipers, and mechanism connected to said retarder for positioning it in such relation to the wipers as to clamp the upper thereon rst at the'end of the toe and 4 clamp the upper on the wipers first at the end sole 4on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at thev end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retarder on vwhich it is mounted fory tipping movements about an axis extending widthwise of the last, said support being movable heightwise of the last'by the wipers, an arm connected to said support and mounted -to swing about an axis extending widthwise of the last, another arm movable in fixed relation .to vsaid rst-named arm, and a link connecting said other arm to the retarder for po-sitioning the retarder in such relation to the wipers as to clamp the upper thereon first at the end of the toe and for thereafter tipping it about said first-named axis in the `course'of the wiping of the upper heightwise offthe last to bring it. into position to clamp the upper on the wipers also' at the vsides ofthetoe'. i 1. 10.l In a lasting machine, wipersmovable to Wipel the 'toe-end portion of:an upper'on a last heightwise of the last and theninwardly over an insole onthe last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe,'said retarder being movable bodily height-r 4wise of the last toward the wipers and thereafter reversely movable heightwise of the last with the wipers, vand mechanism connected to said re-4 tarder for tipping it in the course of its bodily movement toward the wipers about an axis extending widthwise of the last into position to of the toe and for thereafter positively tipping it reverselsT about said axis in the course of the wiping-of the upper heightwise ofv the last to cause it to clamp the upper' on' the wipers also atthe sides'ofthetoe. f i t y Q11.' In a lasting-machine,'Iwipers movable to wipe-the'toe-end portion' of an'upper on a 'last heightwise ofA the last and then 'inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder `for clamping the upper'on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toeja support yfor said retarder movable-'to carry it heightwis'e ofthe last toward the wipers and thereafter reversely movable vwith it as the upperis wiped heightwise of the last, and mechA- anisrn positively connected to said support 'and to the retarder-'for tipping the'retarder about an axis extending widthwise of the last into position to clamp the upper on the wipers rst at the end of the toe and for thereafter tipping it reversely about said axis in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last to cause it to clamp the upper on the wipers also at the sides of the toe.

12. In a lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the toe-end portion of an upper `on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retarder movable to carry it heightwise of the last toward the wipers and thereafter reversely movable with it as the upper is wiped heightwise of the last, a device mounted to turn about an axis extending widthwise of the last and connected to said Support for controlling it in its movements heightwise of the.

last, and means connecting said device to the fixed relation to said first-named arm, and a link connecting said other arm to the retarder to tip the retarder about an axis extending widthywiser of the last into position to clamp the upper on the wipers rst at the end of the toe and to tipit thereafter'reversely about said axis in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of retarder for tipping the retarder about an axis i extending widthwise of th last into position to clamp the upper on the wipers rst at the end of the toe and for thereafter tipping it reversely about said axis in the course of the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last to cause it to clamp the upper on the Wipers also at the sides of the toe.

13. In a lasting machine, Wipers movable to wipe the toe-end portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retarder movable to carryit heightwise of the last toward the wipers and thereafter reversely movable with it as the upper is wiped heightwise of the last, an arm mounted to swing about an axis extending widthwise of the last and connected to said support for controlling it in its movements heightwise of the last, another arm mounted to swing in the last to cause it to clamp the upper on the wipers. also at the sides of the toe.

14. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of an upper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, and means for positioning said retarder in such inclined relation to the wipers as to clamp the upper thereon first at the end of the toe as it is wiped heightwise of the last and for tippingfit about an axis extending widthwise of the last in the course of the toe-lasting operation into position to clamp the upper on the wipers also at the sides of the toe and thereafter into position to release the upper at the end of the toe earlier than at the sides of the toe.

15. In a lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the toe-end portion of an upper on a last inwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe, a support for said retarder, means for moving said support heightwise ofV the last to withdraw the retarder from the upper after the beginning but prior to the completion of the inward wiping movements of the wipers, and a positive connection between said means and the retarder for simultaneously tipping the retarder relatively to said support about an axis extendingwidthwise of the last to cause it to release the upper at the end of the l toe earlier than at the sides of the toe.

PHILIP E. BURBY. 

